Maternity corset



13, 5 G. M. J. FOWLER ETAL 2,720,653

MATERNITY CORSET Filed May 3, 1954 a. .219- Z 4 3 INVENTORS.

v Ger/rude M. Jay/2e Paw/er Dorozk/HWor/z'ng L A BY 3 53 ATTORNEYS.

MATERNITY CORSET Gertrude M. Jayne Fowlerand Dorothy-H. Worthing, v EastProvidence, R. I;

Application May 3, 1954, Serial-No. 427,055

8 Claims. (Cl; 241) This invention relates toa maternity corset andmore'particularly to an abdominal support belt in combination with a corsetwhich is adapted to supportthe lower abdomen of the wearer.

An object of the present invention is to provide' amaternity garmentwith an adjustable belt strap which will be disposed at an angle so-asto lift the fetus as well as'pushit to the rear, thereby relievingpressure on the lower abdomen.

Another object of the invention is the provision of guiding means in theform of'slits in the garment through which the belt may pass so as toassume the proper angle and to prevent vertical slipping thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of two sets of sidelaces which may be separately adjusted as desired during thevariousstages of pregnancy.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certainnovel features of construction as will be more fully describedandparticularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Figure 1 is a side view of the garment being worn;

Figure 2 is a developed plan view of the garment;

Figure 3 is a plan View of the belt strap;

Figure 4 is an enlarged plan view of one of the slits in the garment;

Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 1 of a modification of the garment;and

Figure 6 is a similar view of still another modification of the garment.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the fastening portion of a modified beltstrap.

In proceeding with our invention, we form a generally circular garmentof a fabric that is adapted to stretch in both directions through theuse of a covered rubber yarn in both the warp and the weft. Othermaterials exhibiting stretch in two directions may, of course, besubstituted. Darts are formed at either side of the garment with eyeletsat the edge thereof so as to allow for circular adjustability of thegarment. Slits are cut in the garment at the dart sections and also atthe rear of the garment so as to form two pairs of slits, the pair atthe rear being higher than the pair at the side. An abdominal strap isprovided Within the garment and is supported therein by passing throughsaid slits. A removable crotch is preferably detachably secured to thegarment, and garters may be attached to the lower portion of the garmentin accordance with conventional practice.

Referring to the embodiment shown in Figures 1, 2 and 3 in the drawing,10 generally designates the garment which is provided with a front panel11 and rear panel 12. These two panels are defined by dart sections 13where pleats 14 have been taken. The pleats are formed by stitching 16and are brought together at the lower edge of the garment as at wherethey are securely stitched to form a flat surface. The pleat may also bebound with bias tape for reinforcement and eyelets 17, 17 placedtherein. As seen in Figure 1, two sets of laces 35; 36 are adapted to beinserted through-eyelets 17, 17", respectively, to adjust the widthofthe pleated-g sections 13. However, if desired, one set oflaces 37(Figure 6) may be' used if maximum adjustability isnot desired. Aportion is cut in the front panel 11- to provide a recess 23 in agenerally arched shape, and a corresponding arch-shaped 'recess24 is-cutin the'rear panel 12. Each of these arched recesses 23 and 24*isprovided with suitable grippers or eyelets 25 on both front and back tosecure a removablecrotch strip. Within the pleated portion 14 a pair ofslits-18 and'19 are cut'and are bound with bias tape, the slits 19 beingslightly closer to the bottom edge 20 of the garment than the' slits 18iA second pair ofslits 21 is cut in the rear panel 1 2 and bound withbias tape as are the previous slits, the locationof these slits-21 beingnear the top edge-22 of thegarment' and spaced from each other asubstantial distance. If' desired, the slits may be provided with hookand eyearrangements 27, 28 as shown in'Figure 4 to facilitatetlieclosing thereof should the garment be worn without the belt strap 30-and are shaped to allow the belt strapto' pass therethrough.

The belt strap 30, as shown in Figure 3, is'preferably formed from anelastic material and is-provided'with a set of hooks31 at one end and aplurality of sets-ofeyelets 32 at the other end thereof so as to givesome latitudefor adjustment. The center section of 'thebelt strap ispreferably covered with a cushiony materialsuchas foam" rubber, and togive longitudinal rigidity to the belt; stays are aflixed theretorunning'lengthwise of the belt. The entire center section may then becovered with a' fabric that has relatively little stretch so as to"give" further rigidity' to the center section. To provideadditionaladjust abilityto the belt, the ends may be formed as shown in Figure 7,in which two separate elastic sections 33 are stitched as at 33a to thebody of the belt. Hooks 31 are affixed to the ends of the sections 33,which cooperate with eyes 32 fastened to a separate strip 34. Byadjusting the length of this strip 34 and providing a plurality of setsof eyes 32', a wide range of adjustability may be effected.

As will be seen by referring to the embodiment of Figure l, the belt isadapted to be passed through the slits 18, 19, and 21 so that the beltis inside the front panel 11 of the garment, passing out of the slit 19and into the slit 18, and thence out of the slits 21, fastening on theoutside of the rear panel of the garment by means of the hook and eyearrangements 31, 32. With this arrangement the belt assumes an angle inthe range of approximately 30 to 45 degrees with respect to the top andbottom edges of the garment so as to result in an upward lifting forceas well as a compressive force on the lower abdomen, the weight beingsupported by the hip structure and the entire garment giving support atthe small of the back of the wearer.

The garment is applied to the body of the wearer by stepping into itwith the strap 30 properly inserted through the slits 19, 18, and 21 andthe lacings 35, 36 loosened. It may then be pulled up to the abdominalregion and the individual laces 35, 36 tightened for comfort. The belt30 is then fastened together with the appropriate tension by connectingthe hooks 31 with the proper set of eyes 32. If abdominal support is notdesired, the belt strap 30 may be omitted and the garment worn as ausual corset.

In Figure 5 we have shown a modification of our garment wherein only twoslits 19' and 21' have been provided, like parts being designated withthe same reference numerals and a double prime. In this showing the beltstrap 30 passes on the exterior of the garment between slits 19, whichin some cases may be desirable to eliminate the bulk within the garment.In all other respects the garment is identical and has the darts 13"with two sets of adjusting laces 35", 36".

. from the small of the back of the wearer toward, the front portion ofthe corset to engage the lower abdomen of the.

wearer at an angle thereto, the ends of the belt being fastenedtogether;

2. A maternity corset including front and back portions, a first pair ofvertically disposed slits in the back portion thereof, said first pairof slits laterally spaced from each other adjacent the top edge of saidback portion to be adjacent the small of the back of the wearer, asecond pair of slits each disposed at a position 'in the lower portionof said front portion and at a side of said corset adjacent the junctureof said front and back portions, a belt having a width approximatelyequal to the length of said pairs of slits adapted to pass through saidslits and be held therein, said pairs of slits being related to eachother so that the belt slopes downwardly toward the front portion of thecorset to engage the lower abdomen of the wearer at an angle thereto,the ends of said belt fastening together across the rear panel at thesmall of the back of the'wearer.

3. A corset as in claim 2 wherein said belt passes from the exterior ofsaid corset in through said first pair of slits and out said secondpair.

4. A corset as in claim 2 wherein a third pair of slits are disposedadjacent said second pair and towards said front portion, said thirdpair located slightly below said second pair to complement an imaginaryline drawn through said first and second pair of slits, said beltpassing in said first pair and out ofsaid second pair of slits andthence into said third pair of slits to lie on the interior of saidcorset at the front portion thereof. v

5. A corset as in claim 2 wherein a dart is formed between said frontand back portions, the edges of said dart having pleats with means toadjustably secure said pleats together.

6. A maternity corset including front and back portions, a first pair ofvertically disposed slits in the back portion thereof, said first pairof slits laterally spaced from each other adjacent the top edge of saidback portion, at least a second pair of slits each disposed at aposition lower than said first pair of slits and at the side of saidcorset adjacent the juncture of said front and back portions, dartsformed between said front and back portions, the edges of said dartshaving means afliXed thereto toadjust the separation of said edges.

7. A corset as in claim 6 wherein a belt passes into said first pair ofslits and out said second pair of slits, said belt being adjustablyfastened across the rear panel to 'j dispose the belt on a downwardslope toward the front portion of said corset to engage the lowerabdomen of the wearer. a

8. A corset as in clairn'6 wherein the edges of said darts are providedwith eyelets and two separate. lacings arranged one above the other passthrough said eyelets.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,185,672 Huettner June 6, 1916 V FOREIGN PATENTS.

527,854 .Frauce Aug. 4, 1921 496,223 Canada Sept. 22, 1953

